Volume 62, Issue 8, 15 April 2016

Postobstructive pneumonia is often regarded as a bacterial infection. Despite overlap, the clinical syndrome of postobstructive pneumonia differs in many regards from that of bacterial pneumonia, suggesting that the observed infiltrate does not reflect bacterial infection in the alveoli.

Arterolane is a rapid-acting, synthetic trioxolane with activity against all erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum. The advantages of arterolane maleate–piperaquine phosphate are once-daily dose, high clinical and parasitological response rates, and rapid parasite clearance.

Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted to evaluate interactions between a 3–direct-acting antiviral regimen for hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus-1 protease inhibitors. Atazanavir (morning) and darunavir can be coadministered with the 3D regimen, but atazanavir/ritonavir (evening) and lopinavir/ritonavir are not recommended.

A considerable number of hepatitis C virus (HCV)–infected women are giving birth, and most of their children are not being adequately tested for perinatal HCV. Therefore, most chronically infected children are unidentified and unlinked to specialty care.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy infrequently complicates primary immune deficiencies, especially those that have effects on both the lymphoid and myeloid systems.

One in 7 Xpert-positive retreatment cases are false positive. Patients with higher Xpert quantitative information, less time having passed since their previous tuberculosis, and a normal chest radiograph are more likely to have false-positive results. Xpert detects DNA in nonviable, nonintact cells.

We show that the bovid-associated parasite Trypanosoma evansi is endemic in Vietnam and has zoonotic potential. Our study describes the first laboratory-confirmed human case of T. evansi in a previously healthy individual without apolipoprotein L1 deficiency.

In this systematic review the authors found no precise definition of antimicrobial de-escalation (ADE). The association between ADE and improved outcomes is biased by common determinants such as appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the absence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, and clinical improvement.

CD4 counts during early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection do not predict HIV transmission or disease progression, and hinder efforts to expand antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage. Country-level HIV policies should follow World Health Organization guidelines and remove CD4 counts as a criterion for initiating ART.

Recent thymic emigrant CD4+ T cells in perinatally human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients predict disease progression as reflected by CD4 count change and/or viral load change.

Efavirenz-based combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) was associated with significantly lower atovaquone plasma concentrations in human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects vs subjects not receiving cART. The currently recommended dose of atovaquone for mild-moderate Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia may not be adequate in patients receiving efavirenz.

Cost and complexity have hindered implementation to date of viral load testing in resource-limited settings. If rapid and timely scale-up is to become a reality, numerous factors will need to be addressed, including health and laboratory system strengthening, pricing, and multiple programmatic and funding challenges.